Legis Daily

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-98| Senate 
| Updated: 7/3/2025
Shelley Moore Capito

Shelley Moore Capito

Republican Senator

West Virginia

Cosponsors (3)
John R. Curtis (Republican)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate a rulemaking proceeding within 180 days of enactment to establish a vetting process for applicants seeking new high-cost universal service program funding awards. This "covered funding" specifically targets the deployment of broadband-capable networks and the provision of supported services over those networks. Under the proposed rules, the FCC will only award funding to applicants who can demonstrate sufficient technical, financial, and operational capabilities , along with a reasonable business plan, to deploy the proposed network and deliver services. The Commission will evaluate these proposals against reasonable and well-established technical, financial, and operational standards, including those used for broadband availability reporting, and consider the applicant's history of compliance with other government broadband funding programs. Furthermore, the FCC must establish penalties for pre-authorization defaults, setting a minimum of $9,000 per violation and generally requiring the base forfeiture to be at least 30 percent of the applicant's total support.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4126
Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-275
Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2024
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 15, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 5, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Apr 28, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-14.
Apr 28, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 48.
Apr 29, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2399
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 61.
Jun 26, 2025
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3570; text: CR S3570)
Jun 26, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Jun 27, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jul 3, 2025
Received in the House.
Jul 3, 2025
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4126
    Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-275
    Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2024


  • January 15, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 15, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • February 5, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • April 28, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-14.


  • April 28, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 48.


  • April 29, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2399
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 61.


  • June 26, 2025
    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3570; text: CR S3570)


  • June 26, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.


  • June 27, 2025
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • July 3, 2025
    Received in the House.


  • July 3, 2025
    Held at the desk.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1768: Lower Costs for Everyday Americans Act
  • HR 119-2399: Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025
Internet, web applications, social mediaRural conditions and developmentTelephone and wireless communication

Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-98| Senate 
| Updated: 7/3/2025
This legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate a rulemaking proceeding within 180 days of enactment to establish a vetting process for applicants seeking new high-cost universal service program funding awards. This "covered funding" specifically targets the deployment of broadband-capable networks and the provision of supported services over those networks. Under the proposed rules, the FCC will only award funding to applicants who can demonstrate sufficient technical, financial, and operational capabilities , along with a reasonable business plan, to deploy the proposed network and deliver services. The Commission will evaluate these proposals against reasonable and well-established technical, financial, and operational standards, including those used for broadband availability reporting, and consider the applicant's history of compliance with other government broadband funding programs. Furthermore, the FCC must establish penalties for pre-authorization defaults, setting a minimum of $9,000 per violation and generally requiring the base forfeiture to be at least 30 percent of the applicant's total support.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4126
Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-275
Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2024
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 15, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 5, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Apr 28, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-14.
Apr 28, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 48.
Apr 29, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2399
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 61.
Jun 26, 2025
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3570; text: CR S3570)
Jun 26, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Jun 27, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jul 3, 2025
Received in the House.
Jul 3, 2025
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4126
    Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-275
    Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2024


  • January 15, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 15, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • February 5, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • April 28, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-14.


  • April 28, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 48.


  • April 29, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2399
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 61.


  • June 26, 2025
    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3570; text: CR S3570)


  • June 26, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.


  • June 27, 2025
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • July 3, 2025
    Received in the House.


  • July 3, 2025
    Held at the desk.
Shelley Moore Capito

Shelley Moore Capito

Republican Senator

West Virginia

Cosponsors (3)
John R. Curtis (Republican)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1768: Lower Costs for Everyday Americans Act
  • HR 119-2399: Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Internet, web applications, social mediaRural conditions and developmentTelephone and wireless communication